Drug raids net arrests

(PHOTO: Itawamba County Sheriff Phil Crane inspects the approximately four and a half ounces of crystal methamphetamine — commonly called ICE — seized in a raid of a Golden residence on Feb. 14. If sold on the streets, the narcotics would yield between $10,000 and $12,000. A total of six people were arrested during the bust. – photo by Adam Armour)

By ADAM ARMOURStaff Writer

Two mid-week raids on Itawamba County residences resulted in the removal of large amounts of crystal meth and its precursors from county streets.

Approximately four and a half ounces of crystal methamphetamine — commonly called ICE — were seized from the residence of Rodney Timmons, 37, of 2080 Jerico Road, Golden, after agents with the Sheriff’s Department, North Mississippi Narcotics Unit and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics executed a search warrant on his home at about 2 p.m. on Feb. 14.

During the search, officers seized the narcotics, along with several firearms. A total of six suspects were arrested, two of whom were armed with handguns.

Those arrested included Timmons, who was charged with possession of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm while in commission of a crime; James Matthew Taylor, 23, of 1775 Antioch Church Road, Golden, who was charged with the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and Christopher Jeremy Reid, 27, of 2080 Jerico Road, Golden, who was charged with the possession of crystal methamphetamine.

Three additional individuals were arrested on misdemeanor charges.

All suspects waived their rights to an initial appearance before a judge. Bond was set for both Timmons and Reid at $35,000 each. While Timmons is currently out of jail on bond, Reid is still being held in the Itawamba County Jail. Although bond for Taylor was set at only $5,000, the Mississippi Department of Corrections placed him under a hold, and he is currently being held in the jail.

According to Crane, this is one of the largest amounts of crystal methamphetamine ever seized in the county, with a street value of approximately $10,000 to $12,000.

“This is going to be within the top two or three busts for ice [in this county],” Crane said. “Since this was a substantial amount of ice, it was definitely going to be sold … and I’m fairly sure it would have been sold in this area.”

According to Crane, Timmons had no prior police record.

A second bust was made on Feb. 15, when deputies from the sheriff’s department along with agents from the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics executed a search warrant on the residence of Adam Grimes, 43, and Rhonda Gadd, 36, located at 9135 Highway 25 South in Fulton.

During the search, deputies seized numerous precursors used in the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine along with several firearms.

Grimes and Gadd were both arrested and charged with attempt to manufacture crystal methamphetamine and felony child endangerment due to the presence of a 16-year-old child at the residence.

Grimes is currently out on bond for another charge in Itawamba County— possession of crystal methamphetamine. He and Gadd are both being held at the Lowndes County Jail.